Yes, certainly. It is, however, important to know that the term low milk supply is a misnomer of sorts. There are various reasons why someone might have supply issues. These reasons may need to be looked at more closely in order to best support a breastfeeding relationship. Most of these issues can be resolved with the help of a lactation consultant and the support of loved ones. How a baby is behaving, how the breasts feel, how strong the sensation of a let-down is, or how much can be pumped are not valid ways to determine whether there is adequate supply or not.

Some have a condition called Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT)¹ and it can interfere with lactation and/or lead to lactation failure. For those with IGT, donor milk is a good alternative to supplementing a baby. However, it is important to not jeopardize the possible existing supply because one’s own milk is so very valuable to the baby and should be a priority even if there is only a small amount. A lactation professional is able to assist with this.²

Low supply can also be the result of a difficult or compromised start of the breastfeeding relationship and/or of the baby’s life (for instance after a cesarean section, a premature baby, or postpartum depression). Support with (transitioning to) breastfeeding in these situations needs special attention as there may be many emotions involved that could make this difficult. When possible, donor milk with the use of an at-the-breast system while working on stimulating supply at the same time is a good alternative to supplementing a baby, especially when hoping to exclusively breastfeed in the future. See How do I feed the milk to my baby? for feeding options besides using a bottle.

Other causes of supply issues can include but are not restricted to: latching issues, tongue and lip ties,³ feeding on a schedule, bottle feeding/supplementing, medications, pregnancy, illness, infant illness, nipple shields, pacifiers, sleepy baby, etcetera.⁴ Most causes of low milk supply can be corrected with assessment and timely help from a lactation consultant.⁵

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1. Diana Cassar-Uhl, MPH, IBCLC. La Leche League International. 2016. Breastfeeding with Hypoplasia: Insufficient Glandular Tissue ↩︎
2. Information on possible treatments: ARSHIYA SULTANA, та ін. Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences 21:1, 19-28, 2013. Clinical Update and Treatment of Lactation Insufficiency ↩︎
3. Bobby Ghaheri, MD. 2014. Tong and Lip Tie FAQ ↩︎
4. Jack Newman, MD. 2009. Protocol to Manage Breastmilk Intake ↩︎
5. There can be vast differences in training and expertise. Not every lactation consultant is an IBCLC. IBCLCs are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants who work in lactation clinics attached to hospitals and/or in private practice. They are healthcare professionals who specialize in the clinical management of breastfeeding. IBCLCs are certified and regulated by the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners. Find/verify an IBCLC. ↩︎